FREE Printable Constellation Flashcards

Kids will have fun learning about the formations the stars make in the night sky with these super cute, Constellation Flashcards.  Use these constellations printables to make learning about constellations for kids FUN! Plus, don’t miss all the fun star activity ideas for using your cards with preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade students. Simply print pdf file with the free constellation printables and your children will have fun learning with the constellation cards.

Constellation cards

A constellation is a group of visible stars that form a pattern when viewed from Earth. The pattern they form may take the shape of an animal, a mythological creature, a man, a woman, or an inanimate object such as a microscope, a compass, or a crown. The most common constellations that everyone can find include The Big Dipper (Ursa Major),  The Little Dipper (Ursa Minor),  Orion (The Hunter, Taurus  (The Bull), and Gemini (The Twins)

Learn about the night sky with this set of constellation flashcards which includes 40 different constellations for kids. These constellations printables set that allows you to start studying Constellations, learn vocabulary, terms, and more. These free flashcards can be used to teach many of the constellations seen from the Northern Hemisphere to Preschool, pre k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade students.

Constellation flashcards

Start by scrolling to the bottom of the post, under the terms of use, and click on the text link that says >> _____ <<. The free constellation printables pdf file will open in a new window for you to save the freebie and print that pages.

Constellation printables

Whether you are a parent, teacher, run a summer camp, or are a homeschooler – you will love these free constellations flashcards. Their are so many fun ways to use these cards to help kids of all ages learn some common star constellations and begin to form an interest in astronomy and the solar system for kids.

Free constellation printables

We printed our flashcards on colored cardstock to make them pop, but you can print these black and white flashcards (to save you on printer ink) on plain white paper if you prefer. Now cut each page into 4 constellation cards using scissors.

The constellations included in these printables are:

• Ursa Major (includes Big Dipper); also known as big bear
• Ursa Minor also known as little dipper or little bear
• Lyra represented by a harp
• Hercules of Green mythology
• Canis Major the larger of Orion’s two hunting dogs. The constellation sits at the heel of it’s master Orion, and is next to the smaller constellation of Canis Minor
• Canis Minor – also known as The Little Dog.
• Draco represented by a dragon
• Orion has a clear hour-glass shape with “Orion’s Belt” in the center that is made up of three bright in line.
• Pegasus represented by winged mythological horse
• Andromeda is named after the princess Andromeda in Greek mythology.
• Cepheus is represents a king
• Aquilla represents an Eagle associated with the god Zeus. The Eagle appears to be swopping down towards constellation Aquarius
• Taurus represents a bull and commemorates the god Zeus changing himself into a beautiful white Bull to win the affections of the Phoenician princess Europa.
• In Greek mythology, Gemini was associated with the myth of siblings Castor and Pollux
• Virgo means “virgin” in Latin.
• Libra is Latin for weighing scales, making it the only constellation of the Zodiac representing an inanimate object.
• The Northern Cross is what’s known as an asterism. In other words, it’s not a constellation but simply a noticeable pattern of stars.
• Perseus constellation lies in the northern sky, next to Andromeda. It was named after the  hero Perseus  in Greek mythology. Perseus is one of the larger northern constellations.
• In mythology, Cancer is associated with the crab in the story of the Twelve Labours of Heracles
• The constellation COMA BERENICES represents the beautiful hair of Queen Berenice of Egypt. She was so concerned for the safety of her husband Ptolemy III when he went off to war, that she vowed to cut off her glorious long hair as a sacrifice to Venus, should he be spared.

Printable constellations

There are two different cards in the file. We printed each set on a different colored cardstock.

• include constellation name and star formations (our purple cards above)
• coordinating cards that show what the star pattern was named after with a visual aid (including the constellation inside)

You can use these flashcards to play a matching memory game, as flashcards to memorize these constellations, or with some of the fun, hands on activities outlined below.